The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy curriculum focuses on combining classroom learning with patient-based care experiences. Whether it’s through a rotation or internship, students in all stages of the Pharm.D. track are utilizing their skills in a wide range of healthcare environments this summer.
Fourth-year students start their year of advanced patient care experiences in May, and generally spend a month in each position.
Paige Cawley: Juneau, Alaska
Fourth-year student Paige Cawley took her interest and experience in geriatric pharmacy to Juneau, Alaska this summer, where she completed a rotation with the Indian Health Service (IHS). With the IHS, she worked in a clinic that helped prevent patients from developing blood clots and consulted patients and doctors on medication choices. 
She also worked with other pharmacists, nurses and dietitians to ensure diabetic patients received necessary screenings.
“It’s completely different when you learn it in class versus when you’re applying it in the real world,” she said.
Cawley said being in a full-time rotation setting presented its own challenges, since there are additional projects to turn in after the workday is over. However, she’s had the chance to take on a high level of responsibility and be treated as a colleague by other pharmacists.
“You’re given a lot more independence than you would expect,” she said.
She hopes to apply these skills to future rotations (she’ll be heading to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs later this year) and a geriatrics residency.
Sheila Garcia: Greenville, NC
Other rising fourth-year students had summer rotations across North Carolina, such as Sheila Garcia who was at the Greenville, N.C. VA Health Care Center. On campus, she has been involved in Carolina Association of Pharmacy Students (CAPS), Kappa Psi 
pharmaceutical fraternity, and Spanish Rx.
During her VA rotation, Garcia typically followed a daily schedule from her preceptor. She reviewed her assigned patients in the morning and then summarized her findings for the other pharmacists. In the afternoons, she would have either administrative time or work at one of the VA’s clinics. In addition to patient care, she presented information on medical topics, such as treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder.
After graduation, Garcia wants to pursue either a residency or fellowship position. She was originally a pre-law student in college before deciding on pharmacy school, so her interest in managed care comes from wanting to make a broad impact. No matter where she goes, she plans to take what she learned about work-life balance from her supervisors this summer.
“I’m really going to remember that and … remind myself that school is important, my career is important, but my own personal health is also important, and I need to set time to do the things that I love outside of pharmacy,” she said.
Mitch Haynes: Durham, N.C.
In addition to patient care rotations, students can intern in a variety of fields, including the pharmaceutical industry. Rising third-year student Mitch Haynes, an intern at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, spent his summer working on various policy projects. 
Specifically, he’s looked at opioid prescription trends to see if Blue Cross NC policy changes have impacted the number of prescribed opioids. The company’s standard is to limit the prescription length for patients who have never used these medications for seven days.
Haynes also worked on a project to help nursing staff organize resources for patients as they leave hospitals. He said he is still deciding his career path, but he is interested in managed care and/or a Ph.D. in health outcomes.
“Right now, I know a lot more about how an insurance company works,” Haynes said. “And I think just knowing that is going to be useful regardless of the career I end up choosing, because insurance is always going to be involved.”
Megan Wright: Durham, N.C.
During the first three years of the Pharm.D. program, students complete three separate rotations. Incoming second-year student Megan Wright completed her early immersion at Duke University Hospital, where she worked in operations experience and with the vascular surgery team. Each day, she worked with a discharge pharmacist to help with patients’ medication
regimens.
For the first couple of weeks at her rotation, Wright was assigned a new patient each day to monitor. She commonly worked with stroke patients and ensured they were on the correct anti-platelet medications. Afterward, she followed one patient for a week at a time and made any necessary medication recommendations to the pharmacist. If the pharmacist approved of the suggestion, Wright would speak with the care team.
Wright is pursuing a career in clinical care, and said she enjoyed being able to gain experience at a hospital clinic. She is interested in a career in pediatrics, particularly hematology or oncology.
“I think the biggest thing I learned this summer is just don’t be afraid to ask questions, that it’s okay not to know the answer,” she said.